The Artist Recruit

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq back in 2003, many new developments have come along as a result of it. War breeds new technology and tactics--and thus a more advanced, efficient war-fighting force has been born as a result of it.

It is now 2009, and we are on the eve of the war's end. It is at this time however, that the rules are becoming more and more ridiculous. I'm not speaking of the new SOFA agreement, or any political changes made to the doctrine of war. I'm speaking of course in relation to the "rules" that have been bestowed upon the average Marine by higher command.

It's almost as if the lack of combat action taking place in the country is causing the higher powers that be to become stagnant, senile entities, sitting in their cave-like offices pondering all the possible ways that the "enemy" in their eyes will try to kill them. Cold, war-hardened colonels and generals sit in their offices lost in the world of their own psyche--a place that I can only imagine. Not unlike a dungeon, a place so dark and wrought with fear and paranoia that any good or common sense that once existed has either been tortured beyond recognition or executed by the undertakers of their mind.

One "rule" that comes to mind is an actual order that is now being practiced in full-swing here on the bases of Iraq. That is, of course, the front rifle carry. Without any thought or consideration for the people that actually have to carry these heavy, metal objects with them everywhere they go, i.e., the Lance Corporal; gone are the days when this inconvenient weapon could be slung on the back or side to keep it out of the way. Now you absolutely must put this hulking piece of equipment--the only one you're required to have on you at all times--to your front. This is to keep in the minds of Marines that we're "always ready". Yes, we're always ready. I can only assume that whatever drug induced general or staff NCO that thought of this rule had only the best intentions. But to justify this new, heavily enforced carry, you need to assume a lot of things.

First, you need to assume that the "enemy" (as we like to call him) has made it passed the front ECP of the base in mind. Then, you need to assume that the enemy has the intention to attack somebody up front, on a base surrounded by service members. Then, you need to assume that the service member being attacked has a loaded rifle--which he or she never will on base. You also need to assume that the enemy, as crazy as he may be, won't just mortar the base or launch a barrage of RPG's in place of coming at you with a knife or some such. This has never happened, and I'm almost 100% certain that if the enemy did decide to attack a base as large as al Asad or Ramadi--they would use some kind of indirect fire. Carrying your rifle to your front, at the alert, is not going to help you defend the base against a mortar attack.

The only thing this rifle carry does accomplish is being extremely inconvenient for the person that has to carry it. As we all know, the issued M9 pistol is a status symbol in the military--those that carry it are usually of higher rank or "rate it" some how. This weapon is usually holstered on their side or their leg. If we're now concerned about always being at the ready, when violence is at an all-time low in the country, then maybe the people that carry M9's should walk around with them in their hands, ready to take out any foes that wish to assault them.

Another one of these new rules cooked up in the demented world of higher-rank is that of the "face guard". Illustrated by my good friend LCPL Jacobs here:



This is a face guard designed for turret gunners. Specifically, the lead turret gunner. Jacobs here is the lead turret gunner of a 7-ton--a vehicle that puts him some 15 feet off the ground. In this stage of the war, where IED's are much less common--this hefty addition to his kevlar is best described as "too ridiculous, too late". But somehow, in the cold, bitter world that is the higher-up thought process--this seemed like a good idea. Despite the fact that we haven't run into a single IED out here, despite the fact that the frag from an IED probably won't be able to arc over the 15 ft tall armor of the 7-ton turret and still cause damage to his face. Despite the fact that even if that did happen, it would probably be far too close for this thing to make a difference... he still has to wear it; because in the horrifying reality taking place in the mind of some colonel somewhere in this country--LCPL Jacobs is in danger without it.

I could go on, but I think I've illustrated my point here. As less and less happens, things become more and more ridiculous. It wasn't this bad on my first deployment here, and though nothing of interest happened then either--the odds of it were much greater. And yet, we didn't have to carry our rifles to our front and LCPL Jacobs (or myself for that matter) didn't have to wear the face guard.

Hopefully we get out of this country soon. If we don't, we'll probably have to walk around in our PPE wearing our dress blue jacket patrolling the food court to make sure the enemy is thoroughly confused before they try to mess with the US Marines... a force to be reckoned with.